Controlling device for self-playing pianos.



E. J. BENHETT. CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR SELF PLAYING PIANOS.

- APPLIUATIQN FILED AUG, 25, 1909. 1,030,863.

. ,(UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT J. BENNETT, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ARTISTAIIANO PLAYER COMPANY, OF MILAN, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR SELF-PLAYING PIANOS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, I912.

A pplication'filed August 25, 1909. Serial No. 514,469.

ing an opening or channel 5 extending To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that 1, ROBERT J. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States of America,

and resident of Moline, Rock Island count-y,

Illinois, have invented a certain new and means whereby a single shifting member,-

such, for example, as the tempo lever, may carrywith it means for controlling one or more of the above described mechanisms. so that the same hand, without removing it from the said lever, may be used for in various ways exercising control over the automatic playing mechanism.

A further objectis the provision of an improved arrangement whereby the means for regulating the above described mechanism; or some portion thereof, may be so positioned as to be entirelyout of sightwhen not in use.

Afurther object is the provision of a regulating or controllingdevice that can be cheaply constructed and least liable to get out oi order.

These and such other objects as may hereinaftc appear are attained by my invention, an embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a sectional view on line 1-1 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing my improved device in position, the cover which serves as a tempo lever being shown-raised in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on line 2-2 in Fig. 1. looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 4 is a, sectional view on line 4.4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings-& represents the key-slip of a player piano havtherethrough and into the key-rail G, as shown at 7. A passage 8 communicates with the interior of the piano. At the bottom of the opening 5 and on either side of the channel 7 are guides or ways 9, extending into channels or pockets 10, 11, communicating with. the opening 5. Mounted withinthe opening 5 and seated on a base 12 is a metal block 13 provided with a plurality of pockets or channels 14, 15, 16. A

pair of circular hollow pneumatic connections 17, 1S, screw into the base 12, the openings or channels 19, 20, in said connectionsregistering with the openings 15. 16, in the block 13.. Small air passages 17 and 18 through the connections 17 and 18 connect the chambers 15---1f)a nd 16 -20. Achannel 21 from the atmosphere communicates with the upper chamber 22, and a pipe '23 connects the lower channel 19 with pneumatically operated stop or skip key mechanism (not shown). Similarly a channel 24 communicates with the upper chamber 25,

and a pipe 26 connects the lower chamber 20 with pneumatically operated rewind mechanism (not shown). A pair of keys or pushbuttons 27, 2S, fit within pockets 2E), 30, in the block 13, and terminate in valve-stems 31, 32, on which are mounted valves 33, 34, held against circular seats 35, 36, by the coil springs 37, 38, surrounding the posts 38 which serve as a stop for the valves 33- -34. When the buttons or keys 27 or 28 are pushed down, the valves 33 or 3 are unseated, admitting atmospheric air and re ducing the tension in the tubes 23 or 26 and setting in operatipn the skip key mechanism, or the rewind mechanism.

A post or support 3.) is secured to the block 13 provided with upwardly projecting cars to. A swinging cover 41 is pivotally mounted between these ears and held in closed position by means of an ordinary spring -12. One end of a second spring 43 is mountedon the plate lland provided with a catch or str p ll. \Vhen the 'end of 5 with the governor or tempo mechanism,

and regulates the speed of the roll by the shifting movement, serving as a tempo regulator. On the free end of the spring 43 is mounted a stud orpost passingthrough the block 13 and projecting slightly above the top. By pressing down on this stud the stop 44 is pushed down below the end of the [member 41, releasing it and rendering it possible to close the cover.

5- It is evident that the support 39 may be dispensed with and the cover mounted di rectly on the block 13; so, also, other details of construction may be modified without departing from the spirit of my 1;. 'ention.-

In the operation of my inatntion, the cover 41 is swung downwardly until the upper end is rigidly in place, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. By grasping this member between the first and second fingers of the right hand, the third andfourth fingers are left free to operate the keys 27 and 28 Without interfering in any way with the operation of the tempodevice. This renders it possible for the operator at any time to skip any desired portion of the music or to rewind and repeat at will. No claim is made for any means for operating these various devices and mechanisms, but to the combination of means in a unitary structure for setting such mechanisms or devices in operation. It is not understood that this is to be used simply for tempo or rewind,

but that expression devices ormechauisms may also be set in operation by the same or similar means; in fact, that the dire player mechanism may be control ed and regulated by one or more unitary structures that can be incons icuously located in the front of the piano and can be entirely hidden 5 from view when not in use.

nism, and carrying-with it means the said mechanism, whereby a plurality of thec'ontrolling devices essential to the memesse chanical playing of a piano or organ are contained 1n one bodily movable element.

I claim:

1. In a player piano, the combination with a keyboard, a key slip, a movable structure comprising a plurality of controlling devices, and apivotcd plate for moving said structure parallel to said key slip and con cealing said devices when not in use.

2. In a player piano, the combination with a keyboard, a key slip, a movablestructure comprising a plurality of controlling devices, and a pivoted plate adapted when open to serve as a handle for moving said structure parallel to said key slip. and serving when closed as a cover to conceal. it.

3. In a player piano, the ombination with a keyboard, a key slip, a movable structure comp ising a plurality of controlling devices, a pivoted plate adapted when open to serve as a haudl "for moving said structure parallel to said key slip and serving when closed as a cover to conceal it, and means for locking said plate in upright position.

4. lo a musical instrument, the combinati::u with a key slip a movable structure comprising a plurality of controlling devices, and means mounted thereon for moving said structure parallel to said key slip and for concealing it when not in use.

5. In a player-piano, the combination with a key-slip, a movable structure constituting a tempo regulator, and a combined handle and cover for inc-ving and concealing said structure, pivotally mounted theeon.

6. in playing n'ieclninisui for pianos or organs, a handle moved lJt ly latera ly an side to side to control the tempo, and

ngrolling devices in the form oi'v one or more puslrbuttons nu: hills with said handle and operable by other fingers of the same hand.

7. in a musical instrument, the combination with a key slip, a plurali' of hand operate. controlling devices so bined in unit ry structure, means to sli turc parallel to said key operating one of said controlling device and means for concealing id devices when not in use. Si ned by n Rcck Island, lllinois this aid struc- 

